Expression Cards
816 cards available.
idiom
tighten the belt
Meaning
to reduce spending; to save money due to financial constraints
Example
In tough economic times, businesses must **tighten the belt** to survive.
idiom
tighten the screws
Meaning
to put pressure on someone to make them behave or act a certain way
Example
The government **tightened the screws** on tax evaders.
phrasal-verb
tighten up
Meaning
to make rules or policies stricter
Example
The government decided to **tighten up** regulations on foreign investments.
phrasal-verb
tighten up on
Meaning
to become stricter with spending or policy
Example
The central bank decided to **tighten up on** lending to reduce inflation.
phrasal-verb
tighten up regulations
Meaning
to make rules or laws stricter
Example
The central authority decided to **tighten up regulations** on foreign trade.
idiom
tighten your belt
Meaning
to spend less money; to economize
Example
We’ll have to **tighten our belts** until business improves.
idiom
till the soil
Meaning
to prepare for future success by hard work
Example
He spent years **tilling the soil** before his business finally grew.
idiom
time flies
Meaning
time passes very quickly
Example
**Time flies** when you’re having fun.
idiom
Time heals all wounds
Meaning
Emotional pain will lessen with time.
Example
Don’t worry, time heals all wounds.
idiom
time is money
Meaning
time is valuable and should not be wasted
Example
In business, every minute counts because **time is money**.
phrasal-verb
time out
Meaning
to stop a connection after taking too long to respond
Example
The website **timed out** because the server was too slow.
idiom
time warp
Meaning
a situation where time seems to stop or move differently
Example
That old town feels like it’s stuck in a **time warp**.
idiom
time will tell
Meaning
the future will reveal the outcome
Example
**Time will tell** whether this was the right decision.
idiom
time's up
Meaning
the time for something or someone has ended
Example
You have to finish the test now. **Time's up**!
phrasal-verb
tinker around with
Meaning
to make small adjustments in an experimental way
Example
We **tinker around with** the app design after each user interview.
idiom
tip of the hat
Meaning
a gesture of appreciation or respect
Example
A **tip of the hat** to everyone who made this event possible.
idiom
tip of the iceberg
Meaning
a small part of a much bigger problem
Example
The data error we found is just the **tip of the iceberg**.
idiom
tip off
Meaning
to secretly give information or a warning
Example
A neighbor **tipped off** the police about the noise.
phrasal-verb
tip over
Meaning
to fall onto one side accidentally
Example
The truck **tipped over** while taking a sharp turn.
phrasal-verb
tire yourself out
Meaning
to make yourself very tired, often due to stress or overwork
Example
He **tired himself out** trying to finish all his tasks in one day.
idiom
to backfire
Meaning
to have the opposite result of what was intended
Example
His plan **backfired** and made things worse.
idiom
to bask in the glory
Meaning
to enjoy the admiration and praise from others after achieving something great
Example
He **basked in the glory** of his victory for weeks after the championship.
idiom
to be a sponge for knowledge
Meaning
to absorb information eagerly and enthusiastically
Example
She's **a sponge for knowledge**; she reads every book she can find.
idiom
to be above board
Meaning
to be open and honest in your actions
Example
His dealings were always **above board**, and everyone trusted him.